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The Devoted Friend
Iwouldmuchsoonerhaveyourgoodopinionthanmysilverbuttons,anyday;’andheranandpluckedallhisprettyprimroses,andfilledtheMiller’sbasket.
"‘Good-bye,littleHans,’saidtheMiller,ashewentupthehillwiththeplankonhisshoulder,andthebigbasketinhishand.
"‘Good-bye,’saidlittleHans,andhebegantodigawayquitemerrily,hewassopleasedaboutthewheelbarrow.
"Thenextdayhewasnailingupsomehoneysuckleagainsttheporch,whenheheardtheMiller’svoicecallingtohimfromtheroad.Sohejumpedofftheladder,andrandownthegarden,andlookedoverthewall.
"TherewastheMillerwithalargesackofflouronhisback.
"‘DearlittleHans,’saidtheMiller,‘wouldyoumindcarryingthissackofflourformetomarket?’
"‘Oh,Iamsosorry,’saidHans,‘butIamreallyverybusyto-day.Ihavegotallmycreeperstonailup,andallmyflowerstowater,andallmygrasstoroll.’
"‘Well,really,’saidtheMiller,‘Ithinkthat,consideringthatIamgoingtogiveyoumywheelbarrow,itisratherunfriendlyofyoutorefuse.’
"‘Oh,don’tsaythat,’criedlittleHans,‘Iwouldn’tbeunfriendlyforthewholeworld;’andheraninforhiscap,andtrudgedoffwiththebigsackonhisshoulders.
"Itwasaveryhotday,andtheroadwasterriblydusty,andbeforeHanshadreachedthesixthmilestonehewassotiredthathehadtositdownandrest.However,hewentonbravely,andatlasthereachedthemarket.
